Plunkett Cooney has long been recognized as having one of the premier Insurance Law Practice Groups in the nation. This group’s history of insurance consulting and representation of insurance carriers in coverage disputes, litigation and regulatory proceedings is second to none.

Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Law Practice Group is unique in its depth and breadth of experience. The group is comprised of attorneys who specialize in defined aspects of insurance coverage law and who have achieved national reputations for themselves in those areas. Many of these attorneys have been awarded the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or other insurance industry designations, and are frequent lecturers on insurance law-related topics.  

Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Law Practice Group includes attorneys that specialize in coverage matters arising from:

•  Construction-related claims, including claims for contractual indemnification and claims by additional insureds

•  Large scale, high exposure toxic tort coverage claims, including environmental, asbestos and Chinese drywall claims. These claims typically involve multi-state claims requiring extensive choice of law and multi-state coverage analysis

•  Personal injury and advertising injury claims, including claims for trademark and copyright infringement, and infringement of trade dress

•  Professional liability claims, including errors & omissions claims against real estate agents, insurance agents, attorneys, physicians, and directors and officers

•  First party property coverage claims

•  Auto PIP claims

The following is an overview of some of the many insurance coverage-related matters in which Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Law Practice Group is typically involved:

Insurance Claim Consulting

Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Law Practice Group is frequently retained to consult with insurance carriers at the pre-suit claim stage to provide legal advice with respect to the existence of insurance coverage for a given claim and to make recommendations regarding claim handling. This work often involves the drafting of extensive insurance coverage opinions and coverage position letters on behalf of carrier clients. 

Insurance Coverage Litigation

Practice group members are actively involved in the representation of insurance carriers in insurance coverage litigation nationwide. The firm’s attorneys are currently or have previously represented insurers in coverage litigation in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, West Virginia, New York, Kentucky, Texas and Mississippi, among other states.  

The Insurance Law Practice Group aggressively represents its carrier clients in litigation, seeking the most favorable and efficient results possible. Members of this group have served as lead counsel for insurance carriers in nationwide breast implant, environmental, asbestos, construction and pharmaceutical coverage cases. The group is also involved in emerging insurance issues, such as coverage for tobacco liability. 

Reviewing and Editing Insurance Policy Language

Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Law Practice Group is often retained to review insurance policy language and to assist in the drafting and/or revision of policy language, as well as to consult with underwriters regarding the use of such policy language. 

News

• Wilinski joins Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Law Practice Group
• Moyer, McDonough join firm’s insurance law practice group
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan ‘Super Lawyers’
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys named among ‘Best’ in America
• Witt, Pohl join Plunkett Cooney’s insurance law practice group
• Plunkett Cooney elects four to firm’s board of directors
• Plunkett Cooney announces four attorneys as its newest shareholders
• Murphy, Francis join Plunkett Cooney
• Plunkett Cooney attorneys among Michigan 'Super Lawyers'
• Three shareholders elected to Plunkett Cooney’s Board of Directors
• Plunkett Cooney Attorneys Named 2007 Michigan 'Super Lawyers'
• Lossia joins Plunkett Cooney’s Insurance Practice Group
• Mokhtari joins the Ohio office of Plunkett Cooney

Publications

• Michigan Court of Appeals Upholds Sexual Molestation Exclusion
• Indiana Court of Appeals adopts site-specific approach to choice of law disputes
• Indiana Supreme Court Confirms Rebuttable Presumption of Prejudice to Insurer Arises From Defense of “Late Notice,” Denial of Coverage on Other Bases Does Not Rebut Presumption
• Indiana Supreme Court Confirms Rebuttable Presumption of Prejudice to Insurer Arises From Defense of “Late Notice,” Denial of Coverage on Other Bases Does Not Rebut Presumption
• Indiana Supreme Court Precludes Recovery of Pre-Tender Defense Costs, Clarifies Insurer’s Duty to Defend
• Sixth Circuit (Kentucky Law) Requires Excess Insurer to Establish that Late Notice Caused Actual Prejudice
• Ohio Appellate Court Holds Insurer Entitled to Contribution From Other Insurers Under ‘All Sums’ Jurisdiction, Despite Insured’s Late Notice
• Asbestos Coverage Held Exhausted After Federal Court Applies De Facto Merger Doctrine
• Indiana Supreme Court holds assignment of insurance policy rights invalid due to 'consent to assignment' clause in policy
• Personal Auto ‘Business-Use’ Exclusion Trumps Michigan’s No-Fault Law
• Fifth Circuit Upholds Homeowner’s Policy Exclusions Barring Coverage for Concurrent Water and Wind Damage Due to Hurricane Katrina
• Flood Exclusion Upheld in Louisiana “Hurricane Katrina” Claims
• Michigan Supreme Court Reverses Appellate Court's Finding of Advertising Injury Insurance Coverage
• Iowa High Court Upholds Total Pollution Exclusion as Bar to Coverage
• Federal Court Rules Non-Participating Insurer Must Pay Pro Rata Share of Insured's Settlement Costs
• Minnesota Supreme Court Issues Decision On Pro Rata Allocation Of Indemnity Costs
• Texas Supreme Court Holds Mold Exclusion Applies Even Though Damage Was Caused by Covered Peril
• Indiana Court Rules No Duty for Insurer to Reimburse Pre-Tender Defense Costs
• Insurance Coverage Issues Arising from Large Exposure Contaminated Food Claims